Who’s Really Benefiting from Farmers’ Markets?

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The original intention of the Farmers’ Market was to bring fresh, local produce to those seeking a homegrown, nutritional boost.  These markets, designed to benefit the farmer, the consumer, and the earth were considered mobile enough to help thwart food insecurity in neighborhoods identified as food deserts.
Food deserts earned their moniker from the lack of healthy, affordable food sources available to residents within a safe and accessible distance from their homes.  These areas are deficient in grocery stores, supermarkets, and, according to a recent study conducted in Washington State, farmers’ markets, leaving residents to rely on convenience stores and gas stations for nutritious food purchases.
Dispelling common misconceptions that farmers’ markets aid in reducing food insecurity, the study by Sage, McCracken, and Sage (2013) identified several locational disparities between food deserts and farmers’ markets stating that those who benefited most from these fresh markets were the metropolitan middle-class.  While it would seem logical that farmers’ markets would attempt to station themselves in areas where low-income groups could benefit most, data indicated that most markets were positioned in high-density retail areas alongside grocery stores or supermarkets.  These areas proved to be the most profitable for the small-scale farmer and, thus, a more sound business decision.
Unfortunately, those living in food deserts were the last to benefit.  According to Sage, McCracken, and Sage (2013), only 8% of farmers’ markets were located in food deserts and 23% of food desert residents living below the poverty line had access to farmers’ markets.  These odds were drastically reduced as the researchers moved further from dense urban centers.  Urban clusters and rural areas had fewer markets at greater distance intervals.  Sadly, despite the potential for farmers’ markets to improve food accessibility, several steps must first be taken to educate the residents and farmers, improve access to markets, and ensure market quality at all markets before food insecurity can truly be addressed

LH

Sage, J., McCracken, V., & Sage, R. (2013). Bridging the Gap: Do Farmers' Markets Help Alleviate Impacts of Food Deserts?. American Journal Of Agricultural Economics, 95(5), 1273-1279. doi:10.1093/ajae/aat031

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